Actin Related Protein 2 (ACTR2)

The specific function of this gene has not yet been determined; however, the protein it encodes is known to be a major constituent of the ARP2/3 complex. This complex is located at the cell surface and is essential to cell shape and motility through lamellipodial actin assembly and protrusion. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.

The ARP2 cDNA encodes a deduced 394-amino acid protein that is 99% identical to chicken Arp2 and 67% identical to S. cerevisiae Arp2. In addition to 43-kD ARP2 and 50-kD ARP3 (ACTR3), the human complex consists of 41/40- (ARPC1B), 34- (ARPC2), 21- (ARPC3), 20- (ARPC4), and 16-kD (ARPC5) subunits, all present in approximately equal stoichiometry.